High School Overtime Gets Extra Minute

Overtime periods in high school basketball games will increase from three to four minutes beginning next season, the National Federation of State High School Assns. announced Tuesday.

The federation’s basketball rules committee said the change was made in hopes of creating a better game situation, because a team with possession during a three-minute overtime often simply holds the ball.

The change came as a surprise to many.

“I didn’t even know this rule was being discussed,” said Ray Plutko, executive director of the Southern California Interscholastic Basketball Coaches’ Assn. and a member of the rules committee in 1987-88. “I’m not necessarily opposed to the rule change, but it seems there are other more pressing issues.”

Plutko said it does not make sense to add time to an overtime period and not the rest of the game. He favors 20-minute halves, rather than the eight-minute quarters now used.

Said Dean Crowley, Southern Section commissioner: “This is a major rule change, but I think it’s a good one.”